Incidence Of Delirium In Patients Research Articles

The effect of dexmedetomidine on the postoperative recovery of patients with severe traumatic brain injury undergoing craniotomy treatment: a retrospective study

BackgroundTraumatic brain injury (TBI) has been a worldwide problem for neurosurgeons. Patients with severe TBI may undergo craniotomy. These patients often require sedation after craniotomy. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has been used in patients receiving anesthesia and in intensive care units. Not much is known about the postoperative effect of DEX in patients with severe TBIs undergoing craniotomy. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of postoperative DEX administration on severe TBI patients who underwent craniotomy.MethodsPatients who underwent craniectomy for severe TBI at our hospital between January 2019 and February 2022 were included in this study. The patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after surgery to receive sedative medication. The patients were then divided into DEX and control groups. We analyzed the sedation, hemodynamics, and other conditions of the patients (hypoxemia, duration of ventilation during endotracheal intubation, whether tracheotomy was performed, and the duration in the ICU) during their ICU stay. Other conditions, such as delirium after the patients were transferred to the general ward, were also analyzed.ResultsA total of 122 patients were included in this study. Among them, 53 patients received DEX, and the remaining 69 did not. The incidence of delirium in the general ward in the DEX group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of bradycardia in the control group was significantly lower than that in the DEX group (P < 0.05). Other data from the DEX group and the control group (hypotension, hypoxemia, etc.) were not significantly different (P > 0.05).ConclusionThe use of DEX in the ICU can effectively reduce the incidence of delirium in patients who return to the general ward after craniotomy. DEX had no adverse effect on the prognosis of patients other than causing bradycardia.

Cognitive Training for Reduction of Delirium in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

Postoperative delirium is a common and impactful neuropsychiatric complication in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Cognitive training may enhance cognitive reserve, thereby reducing postoperative delirium. To determine whether preoperative cognitive training reduces the incidence of delirium in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. This prospective, single-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted at 3 university teaching hospitals in southeastern China with enrollment between April 2022 and May 2023. Eligible participants included those scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting who consented and enrolled at least 10 days before surgery. Participating patients were randomly assigned 1:1, stratified by site, to either routine care or cognitive training, which included substantial practice with online tasks designed to enhance cognitive functions including memory, imagination, reasoning, reaction time, attention, and processing speed. The primary outcome was occurrence of delirium during postoperative days 1 to 7 or until hospital discharge, diagnosed using the Confusion Assessment Method or the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units. Secondary outcomes were postoperative cognitive dysfunction, delirium characteristics, and all-cause mortality within 30 days following the operation. A total of 218 patients were randomized and 208 (median [IQR] age, 66 [58-70] years; 64 female [30.8%] and 144 male [69.2%]) were included in final analysis, with 102 randomized to cognitive training and 106 randomized to routine care. Of all participants, 95 (45.7%) had only a primary school education and 54 (26.0%) had finished high school. In the cognitive training group, 28 participants (27.5%) developed delirium compared with 46 participants (43.4%) randomized to routine care. Those receiving cognitive training were 57% less likely to develop delirium compared with those receiving routine care (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.43; 95% CI, 0.23-0.77; P = .007). Significant differences were observed in the incidence of severe delirium (aOR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.25-0.82; P = .01), median (IQR) duration of delirium (0 [0-1] days for cognitive training vs 0 [0-2] days for routine care; P = .008), and median (IQR) number of delirium-positive days (0 [0-1] days for cognitive training vs 0 [0-2] days for routine care; P = .007). No other secondary outcomes differed significantly. In this randomized trial of 208 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, preoperative cognitive training reduced the incidence of postoperative delirium. However, our primary analysis was based on fewer than 75 events and should therefore be considered exploratory and a basis for future larger trials. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2200058243.

Reduction of Postoperative Delirium and Opioid Use in Hip Fracture Patients Through Utilization of Emergency Department Physician Administered Regional Nerve Blocks.

The complication of delirium for hip fracture patients is a predictor of mortality. Use of opioid medication increases the incidence of delirium in the pre- and postoperative periods. Regional nerve blocks are effective in managing acute pain for acute hip fractures. This study aims to evaluate the utilization of ED physicians to perform fascia iliaca nerve blocks on hip fracture patients to decrease the incidence of delirium by decreasing usage of opioid medication. A quality improvement project for performing regional nerve blocks on patients with femoral neck fractures was implemented during fiscal year 2019. Data was collected retrospectively for frequency of ED nerve block procedures, amount of opioid medication use, and incidence of delirium in patients diagnosed with hip fracture. This data was compared to baseline data to determine success of the intervention. Utilization of regional nerve blocks in the ED increased from 2% in 2018 to 96% in 2021 and 89% in 2022. Preoperative opioid usage decreased from 38 MMEs to 16.9 and 18 MMEs respectively. Daily average MMEs decreased from 34 to 12.1 and 14 respectively. Postoperative delirium decreased from 6% in 2018 to 0% from 2020 to 2022. ED provider administration of fascia iliaca blocks and follow-up is a novel practice in our region to decrease the adverse effects of opiate use and decrease delirium rates. There was a reduction in length of stay and increased discharge home rate despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Administration of regional nerve blocks by ED physicians to hip fracture patients presenting to the ED results in a decrease in opioid medication usage. This also results in a decreased delirium rates in the hip fracture patient population.

Quantitative electroencephalography predicts postoperative delirium in cardiac surgical patients after cardiopulmonary bypass: a prospective observational study.

Despite its frequency and associated negative effect, delirium remains poorly recognized in postoperative patients after ICU admission, especially among those who have undergone cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Postoperative delirium is triggered by a wide variety of acute medical conditions associated with impaired neuronal network connectivity. The lack of objective biomarkers primarily hinders the early detection of delirium. Seeking early biomarkers for tracking POD could potentially assist in predicting the onset of delirium and assessing the severity of delirium and response to interventions. QEEGs were taken from 46 sedated postoperative patients, with 24 of them having undergone cardiac surgery. The assessment of delirium was performed twice daily using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) to screen for postoperative delirium (POD). QEEG data were interpreted clinically by neurophysiologists and processed by open-source EEGLAB to identify features in patients who had or did not have POD after cardiac or non-cardiac surgery. The incidence of delirium in patients after undergoing cardiac surgery was nine times greater than in those after non-cardiac surgeries (41.7% vs. 4.5%; p = 0.0046). Patients with delirium experienced longer use of mechanical ventilation (118 h (78,323) compared to 20 h (18,23); p < 0.0001) and an extended ICU length of stay (7 days (6, 20) vs. 2 days (2, 4); p < 0.0001). The depth of anesthesia, as measured by RASS scores (p = 0.3114) and spectral entropy (p = 0.1504), showed no significant difference. However, notable differences were observed between delirious and non-delirious patients in terms of the amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) upper limit, the relative power of the delta band, and spectral edge frequency 95 (SEF95) (p = 0.0464, p = 0.0417, p = 0.0337, respectively). In a homogenous population of sedated postoperative patients, robust qEEG parameters strongly correlate with delirium and could serve as valuable biomarkers for early detection of delirium and assist in clinical decision-making.

Factors Affecting Delirium in ICU Patients.

This study examined delirium severity using a delirium screening tool and analyzed the predictors, including pain, acuity, level of consciousness, fall risk, and pain score, to increase understanding of delirium and present foundational data for developing nursing interventions for delirium prevention. This was a retrospective study of 165 patients admitted to three intensive care units (ICUs). the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (Nu-DESC) was used as a research tool to screen for delirium and measure the degree of delirium. The incidence of delirium in patients was 53.3%, and the average delirium score in the delirium group was 2.40 ± 0.56. Nu-DESC scores were significantly correlated with ICU days, ventilator days, restraint applications, the number of catheters inserted, sedative medication use, the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS III), the Morse Fall Scale (MFS), the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, pain scores, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Stepwise multiple linear regression showed that the number of restraint applications, GCS score, ICU days, and BUN levels were factors influencing delirium. Based on the findings, ICU nurses should use delirium screening tools to ensure accurate delirium screening and work to reduce the incidence and degree of delirium by observing factors affecting delirium in patients.

Low Skeletal Muscle Mass and the Incidence of Delirium in Hospitalized Older Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

Both low skeletal muscle mass and delirium are prevalent in older hospitalized patients, while their associations are unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to investigate the associations between low skeletal muscle mass and the incidence of delirium in hospitalized patients. The PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched for relevant studies published before May 2022, and we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis according to the PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. The summary odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated, and subgroup analyses were also conducted according to the age and major surgeries. Finally, nine studies with 3 828 patients were included. The pooled result showed no significant association between low skeletal muscle mass and the incidence of delirium (OR 1.69, 95% CI 0.85 to 2.52). However, sensitivity analysis suggested that one study caused a significant alteration of the summary result, and the meta-analysis of the remaining 8 studies showed that low skeletal muscle mass was significantly associated with an 88% increased incidence of delirium (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.43 to 2.33). Furthermore, subgroup analyses indicated that low skeletal muscle mass was associated with a higher incidence of delirium in patients ≥75 years old or undergoing major surgeries instead of those <75 years old or without surgeries, respectively. Hospitalized patients with low skeletal muscle mass might have higher incidence of delirium, particularly in those of older age and undergoing major surgeries. Therefore, great attention should be paid to these patients.

Effects of anti-ulcer drugs on delirium in trauma patients

ObjectiveHistamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) may induce a higher risk of developing delirium than proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), but current evidence is insufficient. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether anti-ulcer drugs increase delirium risk. MethodData were obtained from the medical records of patients admitted to a hospital due to trauma. We compared the incidence of delirium in patients who received H2RAs and PPIs with that in patients who received no anti-ulcer drugs. ResultsA total of 150, 158, and 238 patients received H2RAs, PPIs, and no anti-ulcer drugs, respectively. Delirium incidence was significantly higher in patients who received H2RAs (34.0%) and PPIs (44.9%) than in those who did not receive anti-ulcer drugs (22.3%). Even after adjustment for possible confounding factors, the association between H2RAs and delirium remained (adjusted OR 1.78; 95% CI 1.04–3.05), but that between PPIs and delirium was attenuated (adjusted OR 1.25; 95% CI 0.71–2.23). ConclusionsOur results show that H2RAs are associated with delirium risk. We replicated findings of a previous data-driven study. Clinicians need to consider the effect of delirium in anti-ulcer drug selection.

The effect of intravenous remifentanil and fentanyl postoperative delirium incidence in patients receiving elective orthopedic surgeries

Background: The use of certain opioids associated differently with the incidence of postoperative delirium (POD). Remifentanil and fentanyl are short-acting opioids widely used in surgery; however, studies assessing their relationship with POD incidence are still limited. This study aimed to determine the association of remifentanil and fentanyl uses with the incidence of POD in elective orthopedic surgery patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Surgical Unit at Dr Soetomo General Academic Hospital in Surabaya, Indonesia from August to September 2022. Patients who underwent elective orthopedic surgery and used remifentanil (n=16) and fentanyl (n=14) as postoperative analgesia were enrolled in the study. Delirium was assessed using Confusion Assessment Method-ICU tool (CAM-ICU). The associations of remifentanil and fentanyl use as well as patients’ characteristics with POD incidence were assessed statistically. Results: Our data found that there was no significant difference between the incidence of POD with the use of remifentanil (p=0.125) in orthopedic surgery patients. The total doses of fentanyl and morphine equivalent (of remifentanil or fentanyl) were associated significantly with the POD incidence (p=0.010 and p=0.002, respectively). Other factors associated with POD incidence were the use of bone cement during the surgery (p=0.034), duration of surgery (p&lt;0.001), and bleeding volume during the surgery (p=0.024). Conclusions: Our study showed high dose of fentanyl, use of bone cement, longer duration of surgery, and high bleeding volume have greater risk of developing POD in orthopedic surgery patients.

Melatonin intervention to prevent delirium in hospitalized patients: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUNDEvaluation of the effectiveness of melatonin is necessary to prevent the development of delirium in hospitalized patients. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a hormone produced by the pineal gland of the brain from the amino acid tryptophan. Synthetic melatonin supplements have been used for various medical conditions, especially sleep-related diseases, and have proved to be successful.AIMTo determine the effect of melatonin on the prevention of delirium in hospitalized patients.METHODSA literature search of the CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, China Biomedical Literature Database, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and other databases was conducted. The CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP Database (VIP), and China Biomedical Literature Database were searched for Chinese studies, and PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and other databases were searched for international studies. It will be established in June 2021 in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) whether melatonin treatment for 6 mo prevents delirium in hospitalized patients. Literature screening, quality review, and data extraction were carried out using the Cochrane Manual 5.1.0 systematic evaluation method, and Stata 15.0 software and Review Manager 5.3 were used for meta-analysis and processing. RESULTSA total of 18 new RCT articles and 18 experimental subjects were identified. The results of the meta-analysis showed that following the occurrence of delirium, melatonin reduced the incidence of delirium in patients (RR = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.60-0.80), which is of significance, but heterogeneity was significant I2 = 62%. Subgroup analysis was performed to examine the source of heterogeneity, and it was found that different patient types were the source of heterogeneity; the research on subgroup analysis was of high quality and homogeneous. To determine the reliability and robustness of the research results, a sensitivity analysis was carried out. The results showed that after excluding individual studies one by one, the effect size was still within 95%CI, which strengthened the reliability of the original meta-analysis results. Melatonin has a significant preventive effect on delirium in hospitalized medical patients [RR = 0.60, 95%CI: 0.47-0.76), P < 0.001].CONCLUSIONMelatonin can reduce the rate of delirium in medical patients, and the role of melatonin in reducing the incidence of delirium in surgical patients and critical care unit patients requires further study.

Tracheostomy Is Associated With a Decrease in Delirium and Sedation for Intubated COVID-19 Patients.

Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) acute respiratory distress syndrome can experience prolonged periods of ventilation, high incidence of delirium, and require high amounts of sedation. Tracheostomy has been associated with earlier ventilator liberation, decreased sedation needs, and lower rates of delirium but optimal timing of tracheostomy remains unknown. Is tracheostomy associated with lower sedation requirements and lower incidence of delirium in patients with COVID-19 that are intubated? We retrospectively reviewed the first 32 patients at a large urban tertiary referral center that underwent tracheostomy for prolonged respiratory failure. We obtained Richmond Agitation Sedation-Scale scores and Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit data along with amount(s) and type(s) of sedating medications given, in the 7 days before and after tracheostomy. Proportion of days delirious and sedating medications were compared in the 7 days before and after tracheostomy. There was a significant decrease in the amount of opioids and benzodiazepines in the 7-day period following tracheostomy. Opioid dosing decreased by 157.5 morphine equivalents (SD=339, P =0.01) and benzodiazepine dosing decreased by 18 mg lorazepam equivalents (SD=34, P =0.01). There was no significant difference in antipsychotic or other sedative-hyponotic drug doses. There was a significant decrease in the proportion of days of coma or delirium (mean decrease in proportion=0.16, SD=0.32, P =0.008) following tracheostomy. Tracheostomy was associated with a significant decrease amount of sedating medications and with a decrease in proportion of days delirious following tracheostomy.

Factors associated with post-operative delirium in hip fracture patients: what should we care

BackgroundThe postoperative delirium is a common yet serious complication in elderly patients with hip fracture. We aimed to evaluate the potential risk factors of delirium in patients with hip fracture, to provide reliable evidence to the clinical management of hip fracture.MethodsThis study was a retrospective design. Elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery in our hospital from June 1, 2019 to December 30, 2020 were selected. The characteristics and treatment data of delirium and no delirium patients were collected and compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the influencing factors affecting postoperative delirium in elderly patients with hip fracture.ResultsA total of 245 patients with hip fracture were included, the incidence of postoperative delirium in patients with hip fracture was 13.06%. There were significant differences in the age, BMI, history of delirium, estimated blood loss and duration of surgery (all p < 0.05). There were significant differences in the albumin and TSH between delirium and no delirium group (all p < 0.05), Logistics analyses indicated that age ≥ 75 years (OR 3.112, 95% CI 1.527–5.742), BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 (OR 2.127, 95% CI 1.144–3.598), history of delirium (OR 1.754, 95% CI 1.173–2.347), estimated blood loss ≥ 400 mL (OR 1.698, 95% CI 1.427–1.946), duration of surgery ≥ 120 min (OR 2.138, 95% CI 1.126–3.085), preoperative albumin ≤ 40 g/L (OR 1.845, 95% CI 1.102–2.835) and TSH ≤ 2 mU/L (OR 2.226, 95% CI 1.329–4.011) were the independent risk factors of postoperative delirium in patients with hip fracture(all p < 0.05).ConclusionsPostoperative delirium is very common in elderly patients with hip fracture, and it is associated with many risk factors, clinical preventions targeted on those risk factors are needed to reduce the postoperative delirium.

Prophylactic dexmedetomidine use did not decrease the incidence of delirium in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: A meta-analysis.

The benefits of prophylactic dexmedetomidine use in patients undergoing cardiac surgery remain controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the short-term clinical outcomes of dexmedetomidine use versus non-dexmedetomidine use. Systematic searches using PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were carried out for English articles published from inception to 23 September 2021. This was followed by a meta-analysis investigating delirium, the length of delirium, mortality, bradycardia, hypotension, the length of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay, and the duration of mechanical ventilation. Ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs) totaling 2550 patients were included. In the dexmedetomidine group incidence of delirium was 13.5%, compared with 16.1% in the control group. The risk ratio (RR) for the comparison was 0.69 (95% CI, 0.47 - 1.00; p = .052). In addition, there were no differences in mortality (RR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.27 - 1.14; p = .109), the incidence of bradycardia (RR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.91 - 1.57; p = .201), the incidence of hypotension (RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.57 - 1.44; p = .674), and the length of delirium mean difference (MD, -0.99; 95% CI, -2.20 to 0.21; p = .106). However, prophylactic dexmedetomidine use significantly reduced the duration of mechanical ventilation (MD, -2.03; 95% CI, -3.35 to -0.70; p = .003), length of ICU stay (MD, -3.17; 95% CI, -5.10 to -1.24; p = .001), and length of hospital stay (MD, -1.76; 95% CI, -2.88 to -0.66; p = .002). Prophylactic dexmedetomidine use did not decrease the incidence of delirium in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, but significantly reduced the duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and length of hospital stay.

Systematic review and meta-analysis on the incidence of delirium in intensive care unit inpatients after cognitive exercise intervention.

The incidence of delirium in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) is relatively high. Current research results on the effect of cognitive exercise on the incidence of delirium in ICU inpatients are inconsistent. In this study, a meta-analysis was performed on the impact of cognitive exercise on the incidence of delirium in ICU inpatients to provide an evidence-based reference for the clinical prevention of delirium. Articles were searched in PubMed, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Biology Medicine Disc (CBMD), Wanfang Database, and Western Biomedical Journal Database. The search strategy and search terms for Chinese and English databases were as follows: cognitive exercises or activity or functional exercise or rehabilitation or active intervention or gradual training or physical therapy or physical therapy, delirium, and randomized controlled trial (RCT) or randomization. Two researchers were required to independently screen the articles, extract data, and repeatedly assess the risk of bias for the included articles. A total of 7 studies were included. The incidence of delirium was tested for heterogeneity, which showed that I2=94%>50% and P<0.00001, indicating heterogeneity among studies. There was no significant difference between the treatment group and the routine group [Z=1.28, odds ratio (OR) =0.43, 95% confidential interval (CI): 0.12-1.58, P =0.20]. The duration of delirium in treatment group and routine group was significantly different [Z=3.24, mean difference (MD) =-1.99, 95% CI: -3.20, -0.79, P=0.001]. The heterogeneity test was conducted for the length of hospitalization, showing that Chi-squared test (Chi2) =2.16, degree of freedom (df) =4, I2=0%<50%, and P=0.71, indicating that the heterogeneity of each study group was acceptable. The difference between the treatment group and the routine group was statistically significant (Z=10.84, MD =-2.10, 95% CI: -2.48, -1.72, P<0.00001). Meta-analysis results confirmed that cognitive exercises can reduce the incidence and duration of delirium in ICU inpatients, and shorten the length of hospitalization.

Effect of remimazolam besylate compared with propofol on the incidence of delirium after cardiac surgery: study protocol for a randomized trial

BackgroundDelirium is an acute cognitive disorder that presents with fluctuation in cognition, apathy, and non-organized thinking, resulting in increased morbidity, mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and total healthcare costs. In patients undergoing cardiac surgery, delirium also increases the risk of postoperative complications, such as respiratory insufficiency, sternum instability, and need for re-operation of the sternum. This study aims to understand the incidence of delirium in patients after cardiac surgery in patients sedated with remimazolam besylate versus propofol.MethodsIn this prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial, we aim to recruit 200 patients undergoing cardiac surgery between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, who will be randomized to receive either remimazolam besylate or propofol infusions postoperatively, until they are extubated. The primary outcome is the incidence of delirium within 5 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes include the time of delirium onset, duration of delirium, ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay, and mechanical ventilation time.DiscussionThe key objective of this study is to assess whether remimazolam besylate reduces the incidence of delirium in patients after cardiac surgery compared to propofol sedation. In this preliminary randomized controlled clinical trial, we will test the hypothesis that the use of remimazolam besylate lowers the incidence of delirium when compared to propofol in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.Trial registrationchictr.org.cn ChiCTR2000038976. Registered on October 11, 2020

Risk factors associated with the development of delirium in general ICU patients. A prospective observational study.

We aimed to analyze risk factors related to the development of delirium, aiming for early intervention in patients with greater risk. Observational study, including prospectively collected patients treated in a single general ICU. These were classified into two groups, according to whether they developed delirium or not (screening performed using CAM-ICU tool). Demographics and clinical data were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to quantify existing associations. 1462 patients were included. 93 developed delirium (incidence: 6.3%). These were older, scored higher on the Clinical Frailty Scale, on the risk scores on admission (SAPS-3 and SOFA), and had a greater number of organ failures (OF). We observed more incidence of delirium in patients who (a) presented more than two OF (20.4%; OR 4.9; CI95%: 2.9-8.2), and (b) were more than 74 years old albeit having <2 OF (8.6%; OR 2.1; CI95%: 1.3-3.5). Patients who developed delirium had longer ICU and hospital length-of-stays and a higher rate of readmission. The highest risk observed for developing delirium clustered in patients who presented more than 2 OF and patients over 74 years old. The detection of patients at high risk for developing delirium could imply a change in management and improved quality of care.

The Effect of Patient-controlled Intravenous Analgesia (PCIA) on Postoperative Delirium in Patients with Liver Transplantation: a Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Objectives Postoperative opioid use and pain are related to postoperative delirium. This study aims to compare the incidence of delirium in patients with and without patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) among liver transplant recipients. Methods The medical records of 253 patients who received liver transplantation (LT) from January 2010 to July 2017 in a single university hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups: the patients who had used PCIA (P group, n = 71) and those who did not use PCIA (C group, n = 182) after LT in intensive care unit (ICU). The patient data were collected, which included demographic data, and details about perioperative management and postoperative complications. Results There was no difference in the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score between the two groups. Postoperative delirium occurred in 10 / 71 (14.08 %) in the P group and 26 / 182 (14.29 %) in the C group after LT, respectively (P = 0.97). After propensity score matching, no differences were observed in the incidence of delirium (P = 0.359) and the time from surgery to discharge (P = 0.26) between the two groups. Conclusions Patients with PCIA after LT exhibited no relationship with postoperative delirium. Therefore, it is necessary to actively control postoperative pain using PCIA.

Effect of the use of earplugs and eye masks on the quality of sleep after major abdominal surgery: a randomised controlled trial.

Significant sleep disturbance can occur following major abdominal surgery. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of earplugs and eye masks in improving sleep quality and patient satisfaction, reducing nursing demands and in the incidence of delirium in patients after major abdominal surgery. We conducted a randomised controlled trial in 100 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. We randomly allocated participants to sleep with or without earplugs and eye masks on postoperative days 1-3. The primary outcome measure was sleep quality as measured by the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were patient satisfaction, frequency of nursing demand and incidence of delirium measured by the Neelon and Champagne Confusion Scale. Median (IQR [range]) sleep scores were 64 (38-74 [0-100] and 60 (44-82 [18-100]) for the control and intervention groups, respectively (p=0.310). Age and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores were found to be significant factors affecting sleep quality. There were no differences in patient satisfaction, reduction in frequency of nursing demands or incidence of delirium on postoperative days 1-3 after major abdominal surgery. The compliance rate in the intervention group was 60-65%. This study has demonstrated that the use of earplugs and eye masks did not contribute to improvements in sleep quality. Of note, sleep quality was moderate, with higher age and worse baseline sleep quality contributing to worse sleep scores. More studies are needed to investigate interventions to improve sleep quality after major abdominal surgery.

Occurrence of Delirium during ECMO Therapy in a Critical Care Unit in Poland-A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study.

Background: The problem of delirium during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy, which has rarely been studied, is an important issue since it is necessary to ensure patient safety during therapy. This study aimed to show the incidence of delirium in patients after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy and factors affecting the occurrence of delirium in this group of patients. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Method: The study involved a group of patients from an intensive cardiac care unit who received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy. The study lasted for more than two years, in the period from 2018 until 2020. The Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (NuDESC) and the Delirium Observation Screening Scale (DOSS) were applied. Additionally, the patients were examined using Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS), the Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS), and a thirst intensity scale; ultimately, relationships between these factors and delirium were examined. Results: In patients who underwent ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) therapy, delirium was confirmed by the NuDESC in 68.75% of patients in the evening hours, while it was measured by the DOSS scale in 84.38% of patients in the morning. The study found that ECMO delirium was not associated with hyperactivity, sleep disturbance, sedation, pain, or thirst. Conclusion: Delirium in patients undergoing ECMO therapy was confirmed by both the NuDESC and DOSS. Factors such as thirst and sleep disturbance after ECMO therapy were shown to influence the occurrence of delirium. The diagnosis of delirium using standardized scales is possible provided that more tests are carried out. Research should be conducted to determine whether the NuDESC is equivalent to the DOSS.

Recommendations for respiratory rehabilitation in adults with coronavirus disease 2019.

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious respiratory disease that leads to respiratory, physical, and psychological dysfunction in patients. Respiratory rehabilitation is an important intervention as well as cure for clinical patients. With increased understanding of COVID-19 and the accumulation of clinical experience, we proposed recommendations for respiratory rehabilitation in adults with COVID-19 based on the opinions of frontline clinical experts involved in the management of this epidemic and a review of the relevant literature and evidence. Our recommendations are as follows: 1. for inpatients with COVID-19, respiratory rehabilitation would relieve the symptoms of dyspnea, anxiety, and depression and eventually improve physical functions and the quality of life; 2. for severe/critical inpatients, early respiratory rehabilitation is not suggested; 3. for patients in isolation, respiratory rehabilitation guidance should be conducted through educational videos, instruction manuals, or remote consultation; 4. assessment and monitoring should be performed throughout the respiratory rehabilitation process; 5. proper grade protection should be used following the present guidelines. These recommendations can guide clinical practice and form the basis for respiratory rehabilitation in COVID-19 patients.

Epileptic seizure discharges in patients after open chamber cardiac surgery\u2014a prospective prevalence pilot study using continuous electroencephalography

PurposePatients undergoing cardiac surgery often develop delirium which increases the risk of postoperative morbidity and leads to a reduced quality of life. Retrospective studies show a higher incidence of delirium in patients with seizures. However, these studies do not systematically detect subclinical seizures, so the incidence of seizures after cardiac surgery remains speculative. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of electrographic seizures after elective open-chamber cardiac surgery.MethodsThis prospective, blinded, monocentric, observational study investigated patients scheduled for elective open-chamber valve reconstruction or replacement. Anaesthesia, surgery and postoperative treatment were standardized and not influenced by the presented observation. After surgery, all patients arrived at the ICU, and EEG monitoring started within the first hour. EEG recording was continuously performed for up to 24 h, and the results were independently analysed by two blinded EEG board-certified neurologists.Results100 patients were included. Abnormal EEG patterns were present in 33% of patients, and 9% of all patients showed electrographic seizures. The main EEG activity at the beginning of each recording was suppressed or showed a burst-suppression pattern, and at the end of recording, all patients had an alpha/theta rhythm. An association between electrographic seizures and delirium was found (pχ2 < 0.01).ConclusionThis study reveals a surprisingly high incidence of abnormal EEG patterns and electrographic seizures in patients undergoing open-chamber cardiac surgery. As electrographic seizures are associated with the incidence of delirium, this finding is a relevant phenomenon in the post-cardiac surgery ICU population.